Garment clasp



Sept. 23, 1941- E. oLMsTEAD GARMENT CLASP Filed April 15, 194D INVENTOR LM5TEAD.

' Mpfv/w `ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1941 GARMENT CLASP Wilbur E. Olmstead, Bridgeport, Conn., assignor to The Hatheway Mfg. Co., Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 13, 1940, Serial No. 329,414

4 Claims. (Cl. Zei- 245) The present invention relates to an improved garment clasp, particularly of the hose supporter type, and has for an object to provide a clasp structure including a loop part and a link part, these parts each being separately formed of bent Wire and being integrally welded together to form a one-piece clasp including a loop and link. The clasp according to the invention does away with the necessity for supplementary connecting parts, such for instance as the sheet metal clip or ferrule heretofore employed for connecting the loop and link parts, which increased the cost of manufacture, both from the material and labor standpoint, and had the disadvantages of increasing the thickness of the clasp, allowed relative movement between the loop and the link, and would become distorted and loose as a result of strain and the movement permitted between the loop and link. l

It is proposed, according to the present invention, to assemble the loop and link parts by superimposing one upon the other, and there- -upon Welding the overlapping portions under tion being preferably carried out simultaneously with'the welding operation. The clasp thus produced is extremely at and free from any projecting parts that will cause objectionable bulges when incorporated in the garter structure.

A further object is to provide a clasp in which a cross-bar is provided between the loop and link, for the purpose of attaching the flexible button carrying tape, and it is proposed to provide this bar by osetting transversely disposed parallel bar portions of the overlapped loop and link parts, so that in the assembled welded relation the transverse bar portion of the upper link part will be disposed below the transverse bar portion of the lower loop part in contiguous parallel relation and preferably substantially in the same plane. The cross-bar thus formed will be of double Wire thickness vertically so as to have relatively great strength, will be of flat elongated cross-section, and because of its formation from wire will have a rounded smooth surface to be engaged by the fabric button carrying tape in such manner that abrasive action upon the tape will be reduced to a minimum. It is a further object to provide an interlocking connection between the welded loop and link parts which will 5:5

be so disposed as to directly oppose vertical pulling strain between the loop and link parts, and to this end it is proposed to provide the overlying Vwelded mutually imbedded portions of the loop and link parts at points Where the Welded imbedded surfaces will be transverse to the vertical dimension of the clasp, and will form interlocks so disposed relatively to the vertical strain that such strain will tend to bind the interlocking parts together. Y

A further object is to provide a cross-bar structure which may either be un-slotted, by having the transverse bar portions of the loop and link parts contacting, or may be slotted by increasing the offset to space the transverse bar portions of the loop and link parts, the solid cross-bar being adapted for attaching of a looped button tape secured by stitching, and the slotted cross-bar being adapted to have the tape threaded therethrough. Coincident with this structure it is an object of the invention to provide a clasp in which the button tape may be secured without the use of the usual clamping element as heretofore employed. A further object is to provide a clasp which will enable the button tape to be readily removed manually if desired without the use of tools.

Inasmuch as the clasp according to the invention dispenses with the use of the clip or ferrule employed heretofore for connecting the loop and link parts together, and also eliminates the usual clamping element provided upon the end of the tape, a saving is effected both in the cost of these parts and in the additional operations necessary to assemble them. Y

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing,and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, andthe invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing the loop and link parts of the garter clasp, according to the exemplary illustrated embodiment of the invention, these parts being shown in separated relation prior to assembly.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front'elevation showing the loop and link parts in their assembled welded relation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof.

A, Fig. 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front elevationv showing the complete garter clasp with the button carrying tape of the loop type stitched in place.

Fig. '7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 'I-'I of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the modied form of the invention, in which the cross-bar is slotted, and in which the button carrying tape is secured by being threaded through the slot.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken along the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view of the end of the button tape, as employed in the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 is a Vertical sectional view thereof, taken along the line I I-I I of Fig. 10.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing the loop part of the clasp, indicated generally as IIB, is formed from wire bent to shape and comprises a contracted lower button-receiving loop portion II having parallel sides, an outwardly bulged intermediate button clearance portion I2, an upper relatively wider tape receiving portion I3, between which and the bulged portion I2 there are provided opposed angular bends Ifl forming a contracted neck between the tape receiving portion I3 and the button inserting portion I2, and inwardly bent transversely aligned butted upper end portions I5 constituting a transverse cross-bar.

The link part, indicated generally as I5, is also formed of wire, and consists of an upper garter strap receiving portion II, and a lower contracted button tape receiving portion I8, having inwardly end oi the loop part with the cross-bar i9 downwardly offset and parallel to the cross-bar I5. The bends between the cross-bar I5 and the upper tape. receiving portion I3 of the loop part and between the cross-bar Iiland the tape receiving portion I8 of the link part intersect each other along lines which are substantially diagonal to the vertical and transverse dimensions of the clasp, and with the'parts in this overlapping relation, the intersecting points are welded together under pressure, as at Z, the pressure being such as to cause the overlapping parts to imbed in each other to the point where the loop and link parts are in the same plane. As shown clearly in Fig. 5 the welded loop and link parts embed substantially half way into each other.

' In addition to the integral welded connections between the loop and link parts the mutual imbedding of the intersecting portions provide interlocked joints, the diagonally disposed cooperating surfaces of which are transverse to the vertical line of pulling strain betweenthe loop and the link parts, and inasmuch as the crossbar I5 of the lower loop part is above the crossbar I9 of the upper link part pulling strains between the loop and link parts will be efectually resisted, and in fact will tend to more closely interlock the two p arts than to separate them. The two cross-bars I5 andIB form a transverse bar which is of double wire thickness and of double strength in the direction of pull upon the clasp, and which is at the same time entirely within the front and rear planes of the loop and link parts and has smooth rounded surfaces with which the button carrying tape may be engaged without abrasion.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7 the garter strap 2I is threaded through the upper link part. The exible fabric button tape 22, provided with a rubber button 23 having a flat rubber base 24 which is moulded or vulcanized directly upon the fabric tape, is looped over the cross-bar of the clasp and its folded end is secured by lines of stitching 25 and 26. If desired the butted ends of the bar portions I5 and I9 may be spaced apart suiiiciently to provide a slot to permit the looped flexible tape to be assembled by engaging its edge through this slot.

In Figs. 8 to 11 I have shown a modified form of clasp in which the cross-bar is provided with a slot 27 which is produced by increasing the oliset of the loop and link parts to provide a space between the bar portions I5 and I9. This is for the purpose of securing the button tape by threading it through this slot. As shown in Figs. 10 to 11 this button tape 22a is provided at its upper edge with a rubber coating or impregnation Z8 which slightly thickens the end of the tape and imparts to it a degree of stiffness. This end is threaded through the slot 21 and curled over the top of the cross-bar portion I5, and thereupon the tape is carried about the lower cross-bar I9 from the front to the rear, over the tape end 28 engaged With the upper cross-bar I5, and then downwardly over the front of the cross-bars I5 and I9, from which point it is passed through the tape receiving portion of the loop member to the rear side. In the assembled relation with the tape carried about the bar the tape end 28 is prevented from being pulled through the slot. However, by unwinding the tape the end 2l is released andv may thereupon be readily disengaged through the slot, the rubber being suiiiciently yieldable to permit this operation.

While I have shown the loop and link parts as being in the same plane and formed of the -same diameter wire, the invention is not limited to this arrangement. As examples oi variations within the scope of the invention, the loop and link parts may be secured in offset planes by reducing the degree of imbedding, one part may be in an inclined plane with respect to the other, portions` of the loop and/or link parts may be bent outof the plane of other portions, and the loop and link parts may be formed of different diameter wires. A

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention, but it will be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof as dened in the appended claim-s.

HavingV thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist 1. As an article of manufacture, a garment clasp comprising a formed wire loop part consisting of side portions, a button engaging lower end portion connected betweensaid. side portions, and a transversely extending upper bar portion eX- tended inwardy from 4the upper ends of said side portions, a formed wire link part consisting of side portions, and upper and lower vertically spaced bar portions, said loop and link parts being vertically offset and overlapped, one withY respect'to' the other, and connection means between said loop and link parts consisting, of rigid joints. integrally connecting said loop'and link parts at intersecting points whereby said uppei` bar portion of the loop part is offset vertically above said lower bar portion of the link part.

2. As an article of manufacture, a garment clasp comprising a formed wire loop part consisting of a single length of wire including side portions, a button engaging lower end portion connected between said side portions, and transverse upper end portions extended inwardly from the upper ends of said side portions having their end surfaces opposed to each other and constituting an upper bar portion, a formed wire link part consisting of a single length of wire including side portions, an upper bar portion connected between said side portions, and transverse lower end portions having their ends opposed to each other and constituting a lower bar portion, said loop and link parts being vertically offset and overlapped, one with respect to the other, and connection means between said loop and link parts consisting oi rigid joints integrally connecting said loop and link parts at intersecting points whereby said upper bar portion of the loop part is offset vertically above said lower bar portion of the link part.

3. As an article of manufacture, a garment clasp comprising a formed wire loop part consisting of side portions, a button engaging lower end portion connected between said side portions, and a transversely extending upper bar portion eX- tended inwardly from the upper ends of said side portions, there being substantially diagonally extending bends between said side portions and said upper bar portion of said loop part, a formed wire link part consisting of side portions, and upper and lower vertically spaced bar portions, said lower bar portion of said link part being substan-tially the same length as said upper bar portion of the loop part, and there being substantially diagonally extending bends between said side portions and said lower bar portion ofY said link part, said loop and link parts being vertically oiset and overlapped, one with respect to the other, with said bends of said loopy part in intersecting relation to said bends of said link part, and connection means between said loop and link parts consisting of rigid joints integrally connecting said loop and link parts at the intersecting points of said bends whereby said upper bar portion of the loop part is offset vertically above said lower bar portion of the link part.

4. As an article of manufacture, a garment clasp comprising a formed wire loop part consisting of side portions, a button engaging lower end portion connected between said side portions,

and a transversely'extending upper bar portion extended inwardly frornthe upper ends of said side portions, a formed wire link part consisting of side portions, and upper and lower vertically spaced bar portions, said loop and link parts being vertically offset and overlapped, one with respect to the other, and connection means between said loop and link parts consisting of rigid joints integrally connecting said loop and link parts at intersecting points whereby said upper bar portion of the loop part is offset vertically above said lower bar portion of the link part, said joints being substantially of single wire thickness between the front and back surfaces of the clasp and said bar portions being substantially in the same plane between said front and back surfaces.

WILBUR E'. OLMSTE'AD. 

